INDIANAPOLIS — Three-time Olympic champion
Lenny Krayzelburg followed his plan Saturday night. He did just enough
to qualify for the 100-meter backstroke finals, then did what was
necessary in the championship heat.
Krayzelburg cut his time by more than a second, finishing in 55.10
to edge Matt Grevers for the championship on the second day of the
Counsilman Classic. Grevers finished in 55.20.

"I have the luxury where I don't have to go all
out in the morning," Krayzelburg said. "But it always looks
good when you drop a second and a half, too."

Krayzelburg won three gold medals at the Sydney Olympics
and became the third American to sweep the 100 and 200 backstroke. He
also won a gold in the 400 medley relay.

Since then, though, he has battled injuries more than
he has swimmers and although he's still been competitive, he qualified
in an uncharacteristic 56.50. The time and the victory also gave him
a boost of confidence as he prepares for July's Olympic Trials in Long
Beach, Calif.

"I know I made a couple of mistakes," he said,
saying that cost him another two-tenths of a second. "So I'm right
there in the high 54s, and I'm pretty excited about it."

Krayzelburg's performance topped a night when Olympic
medalists dominated. Four gold medalists from 2000 won events, including
Lindsay Benko, who took the 400 freestyle for her second straight win.
Jenny Thompson also has two wins. She won the 100 butterfly Friday night
and the 50 freestyle Saturday.

But America's top swimmer, Michael Phelps, wasn't among
the winners — or the competitors.

After getting sick during the 200 freestyle final Friday,
Phelps withdrew from his second final — the 400 individual medley.
On Saturday, he was held out of two more events, the 200 butterfly and
the 200 breaststroke.

"I let him sleep today," coach Bob Bowman
said. "We'll see how he does. We're going to let him rest and get
his strength back as much as he can today."

Phelps said he slept for about 14 hours before testing
himself in the pool just before the finals began. Afterward, he said
he was feeling better and that he expects to swim Sunday in the 200
backstroke and the 100 freestyle. He still has not decided if he will
swim the 800 freestyle relay.

If he tries the relay, he would be swimming in three
straight events, something rarely attempted but a good test for Phelps,
who some expect to challenge Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals
in one Olympic games.

"I think this may have helped in the long run,"
he said. "If I'm in the same situation again, I've already had
one experience like this. I'm happy with how the swim felt, but I'm
disappointed I didn't get to swim the IM or this morning."

The biggest surprise of the night belonged to 15-year-old
Elaine Breeden of Lexington, Ky., who defeated two Olympic hopefuls
in the 200 butterfly with what she called the biggest win of her career.

Breeden used a strong push off the final turn to rally
in the final 50 meters and move past Misty Hyman, a 2000 Olympic medalist,
and Dana Kirk, considered a top Olympic contender, in 2 minutes, 11.31
seconds — more than three seconds faster than her qualifying time.
Kirk was second in 2:12.12. Hyman dropped to fourth.

"I'm really excited, thrilled with that race. It
feels pretty good," Breeden said. "I'm really excited about
being in such a fast heat and Misty Hyman, I've always looked up to
her.

"I knew I needed to win or finish well here to
give me more confidence going into the Olympic trials."